Vehicle lighting system



Dec. 16, 1941. J, HAINES 2,266,548

'VEHICLE LIGHTING- SYSTEM Filed Deo. 28, 1939 B2 oFF Y RB 5.1m D, z5, R15' a'kks' Patented Dec. 16, 1941 VEHICLE LTGHTING SYSTEM John It. Haines, Tabernacle, N. J., assigner to Arrow Safety Device Company, Inc., Medford, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 28, 1939, Serial No. 311,241

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a vehicle lighting system, particularly for the proper control of main and auxiliary headlights.

rI'here has been introduced a type of lamp for use as a motor vehicle headlight in the form of an evacuated bulb containing ilaments with the headlight lens formed integrally with the bulb and provided with a polished reilecting surface formed also on the bulb. An alternative type of headlamp comprises a bulb of more or less conventional form formed as a unit with a reflector and lens and adapted to be located as a unit in a suitable socket member mounted on the car. In boththese forms of headlamps, one of the primary advantageous characteristics is that the reecting surface is resistant to the corrosion which is so detrimental to headlamps I" prior type. In the case of the former type of lamp, corrosion is practically non-existent, since the reflecting surface is hermetically sealed from air and moisture. In the latter form, suitable sealing greatly minimizes the damage from corrosion.

While new cars are provided with arrangements for carrying the types of sealed lamps just described in lieu of any headlamps of prior types, there are in use many automobiles carrying the old type headlamps subject to deterioration. Instead of resilvering the mirrors of such headlamps, it is considerably more advantageous to provide the new sealed type of lamp. However, this cannot be received in the conventienal headlamp arrangements, and consequently provision must be made for carrying these sealed lamps as auxiliaries. This can be accomplished in many ways by the provision of mounting means for suitable sockets.

The matter of wiring up the new lamps, however, enters the picture, and it is desirable that the old lamps be retained in circuit to be used where relatively inefficient lighting may be desirable, as, for example, in city driving, or, as mere emergency lights in the event that the sealed type of lamps burn out or are damaged.

It is a broad object of the present invention to provide a switching arrangement designed for the alternative energization of the sets of lamps. Even more specically, it is the object of the invention to provide for a complete arrangement in which dim and bright laments may be selectively controlled, particularly to secure the common asymmetrical type of beam arrangement found desirable for country driving.

The above and other objects of the invention will be appreciated from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying rawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram in the nature of a wiring diagram showing a type of switch capable of association with a foot operated switch and headlamp to eiiect the desired results. In this diagram the actual wiring is omitted for the purpose of clarity, the connections being illustrated by letters.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the plane indicated at 2 2 in Figure 1, showing the operation of the switch when it is lighting the headlamps.

In the diagram of Figure 1, there are indicated at 2 and 4, respectively, the right and left standard headlamps of an automobile. Each of these is provided with two filaments. In lamp 2 these are designated as RB and RD, representing the right bright filament and right dim iilament, respectively, while in the case of lamp 4 they are designated as LB and LD, respectively, indicating the left bright and left dim iilaments. The auxiliary headlamps of the sealed type are represented at l0 and i 2. These contain corresponding pairs of laments indicated by RB', RD', LB and LD. Parking lamps are indicated at 6 and 8, respectively, containing the filaments P. These lamps may be auxiliary lamps on the fenders, for example, or may be bulbs within the main headlamp, or may be provided by third laments of the main headlamp bulbs. It will be understood that, in accordance with conventional fashion, one side of each of these llaments is grounded. The other side of each filament is connected to a correspondingly indicated switch element or a plurality of such elements, indicated in the central portion of Figure 1. In the present day cars, it is common to provide a switching arrangement for the conventional headlamps which will provide for the simultaneous lighting of both dim laments of the headlamps, both bright filaments of the headlamps, or an asymmetrical beam arrangement providing for a dim beam which might meet an oncoming vehicle, and a bright beam to illuminate the right hand side oi the road. This latter type of arrangement is worked out differently in different cars. In some cars, for example, the headlamps are so arranged that the beams cross each other, i. e., the beam from the right hand headlamp illuminates the left hand side of the road, and that from the left hand headlamp illuminates the right hand side of the road. In such case, when the asymmetrical beam arrangement is desired, the right hand headlamp throws a 'elements 26 and 25 It will be understood that the terms dim and bright are used herein in the sense of the effects of the beams as viewed by an oncoming driver. Actually, the beams in all cases may be of the same candle power, but effective brightness or dimness so far as the oncoming driver is concerned is secured by causing the beams to be directed either downwardly or, in the case of the last mentioned asymmetrical arrangement,

toward the right side or left side of the road. In-

stead of speaking of the different possible arrangements, throughout this speciiication and claims, the terms dim and bright will be used inthe sense indicated, and it will be obvious that the invention is applicable to any one of the 'particular systems for securing beams of varying intensities.

A source of current is indicated conventionally as a storage battery I4, which, of course, is

connected in conventional fashion with the usual generator.

A foot switch for controlling the dim or bright condition of the headlamps is indicated diagrammatically at I6 as providing for connection of the battery either to a pair of contacts D1 and D2 or a pair of contacts B1 and B2, the former indicating a dim condition and the latter a bright one. This switch will be understood to be of the conventional type actuated by a button so that each operation causes it to move from the dim to the bright position or the reverse. Since this switch is conventional, it need not be further described.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rather elaborate switching arrangement comprising a knob I3 connected to arspindle 20, which is mounted in bearings (not shown) so as to be slidable and rotatable. The knob. may project from the iront of the dashboard, and the actual switch elements may be This spindle 20 carvby lengthwise movement of the spindle or by its partial rotation.

Spring contact elements, insulated from each other, are provided, as indicated in the gures.

Along the section line 2 2, for example, these comprise members 26 and 26', designed to engage members 28. All of these flexible members are mounted in a suitably insulated carrier. The are joined by strips 28 of Vinsulating material so as to move together when acted upon by the cam 22. Such switch constructions per se are well known, being used for multiple pole switching quite commonly in the 'radio art.

The various leads of the switch elements are lettered in Figure 1 to correspond to the terminals or iilaments to which they are connected.

The actual wiring is omitted from Figure 1 for purpose of clarity since, as will be evident, a

The spindle 20 has four axial positions, indicated as 01T, parking, symmetrical and asymmetrical, in Figure 1. It also has right or left positions adapted for the selective control of the main or auxiliary headlamps, as will be evident from the figures.

When the spindle 2i) is in the 01T position, cams 22 and 24 fail to engage any of the springs. Accordingly, all the lamps are out. When it is moved to the parking position, illumination of the parking lamps will be effected, irrespective of the right or left hand position of the spindle, because the contacts controlling the parking lamps are deflected to be engaged by cam 22. In this position, cam 24 does not engage any of the switch elements.

In the third symmetrical position, the cam 22 will engage either of the switch elements, D1, and will correspondingly move the switch elements B1. If the spindle is in the left hand position, this will mean that D1 engages RD and B1 engages RB. At the same time, the cam 24 will cause its switch element D1 to engage LD, and B1 to engage LB. In accordance with the convention already described, the elements D1 and B1 are connected to the poles D1 and B1 of switch I6. As a result of this, it will be evident that if the switch I6 is in the dim position, the right and left dim laments of the main headlights will be illuminated. If the switch I6 is in the bright position, then the corresponding bright filaments will be illuminated. VIf the spindie is rotated to the right hand position, the corresponding iilaments of the auxiliary headlamps are lighted.

When the spindlev is in its outermost asymmetrical position, the cam 22 will continue to engage the same switch elements as before, but the cam 24 will now engage one of the switch elements designated DzBz. In this case if the switch is in the left hand position, irrespective ofthe position of the switch I6, the left hand bright iilament of the main headlights will be illuminated. If the switch I6 is in the dim posii tion, the right hand dim. iilament will be lighted by the action of cam 22. On the other hand, if the switch IS is in the bright position, the right hand bright ilament will be lighted.

Corresponding limitations of the filaments of the auxiliary headlamps will occur if the switch I8 is turned to its right hand position.

It will be evident that if the asymmetrical condition is not required, simplication is possible by elimination of the asymmetrical position of the switch I8 and also by the elimination of the special contacts D2 and B2, which are, of course, connected together in the more complicated arrangement.

It will be obvious that the invention may be put into practice by the use of other types of switches, the equivalent of that illustrated.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A vehicle lighting system comprising at least two pairs of headlights, each of which headligths comprises a bright filament and a dim lament, a source of current, means comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the flow of current from the source through the bright or dim filaments, and auxiliary means electrically in series with the first mentioned means and also comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the iiow of current to the headlights of one pair only or to the headlights of the other pair only, so that the bright or dim filaments of either pair may be selectively illuminated.

2. A vehicle lighting system comprising at least two pairs of headlights, each of which headlights comprises a bright filament and a dim lament, a source of current, means comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the flow of current from the source through the bright or dim filaments, and auxiliary means electrically in series with the rst mentioned means and also comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the ilow of current to the headlights of one pair only or to the headlights of the other pair only, so that the bright or dim laments of either pair may be selectively illuminated, said auxiliary means also controlling, through manipulation of its manually operable element, an asymmetrical condition of the headlights of either pair by eiecting the llow of current from the source through the bright filament of one member of a pair and through the dim filament of the other member of the same pair.

3. A vehicle lighting system comprising at least two pairs of headlights, each of the headlights of at least one of said pairs comprising a bright filament and a dim lament, a source of current, means comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the flow of current from the source through the bright or dim laments, and auxiliary means electrically in .series with the first mentioned means and also comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the flow of current to the headlights of one pair or to the headlights of the other pair only, so that the bright or dim laments of at least one of said pairs may be selectively illuminated.

4. A vehicle lighting system comprising at least two pairs of headlights, each of the headlights of at least one pair comprising a bright lament and a dim filament, a source of current, means comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the flow of current from the source through the bright or dim filaments, and auxiliary means electrically in series with the rst mentioned means and also comprising a single manually operable element for selectively controlling the flow of current to the headlights of one pair only or to the headlights of the other pair only, so that the bright or dim filaments of at least one of the pairs may be selectively illuminated, said auxiliary means also controlling, through manipulation of its manually operable element, an asymmetrical condition of the headlights of at least one of said pairs by effecting the flow of current from the source through the bright lament of one member of the pair and through the dim lament of the other member of the same pair.

JOHN R. HAINES. 

